Relieved Albion boss Mark McGhee today revealed his "dream ticket" - keeping Albion in the Championship until they move to Falmer.

The Seagulls hope to be in their new stadium for the start of season 2008-09 and McGhee is determined to see the team survive in the second tier of English football at Withdean until then.

The manager and his players are thrilled the club have been given the go-ahead to build by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

It was smiles all round as they arrived for training this morning at the University of Sussex sports complex at Falmer, close to the site for the new ground, in preparation for tomorrow's home game against Ipswich.

McGhee said: "It's a huge relief that it's a yes. I feel different today. I can now look further ahead than the next game and the next campaign.

"I think we have now got to plan for the future. When we look at the young players we have signed and re-signed it gives us a real focus on why we should continue to do that, to build a squad and a team that is going to mature into the new stadium and hopefully take us into a challenge for even better."

McGhee, who celebrates two years in charge with next Tuesday's home game against one of his old clubs Wolves, added: "I would hope we can keep adding to the group of players we have got and have a very young squad to hold us in good stead.

"In the meantime we have got to keep working to maintain our position in the Championship. That is the dream ticket for me.

"I think that's the most we can ask. To ask for any more than that I think is unrealistic."

Star striker Leon Knight greeted Prescott's decision with a broad grin when The Argus broke the news to him. "I'm delighted," he said. "It's about time. I didn't expect it to be anything else. A no would have been scandalous.

"I think the players have helped a lot by staying up last season and before that going up through the play-offs and all the attention that brought.

"I think Withdean will be buzzing a bit for the first time in a long time tomorrow and the lads will be buzzing as well. It will be nice to cap it all off with three points."

Sussex-bred defender Adam Hinshelwood, who will be back in action at Christmas after knee surgery, declared: "It's great news. I didn't know what to expect after it had gone on for so long but I'm delighted.

"Ever since I've been here we've always been at Withdean, so that's all I've known. I used to come down to the Goldstone and I remember those days. It will be nice to get that sort of atmosphere back.

Two former managers who left the club primarily because of the wait for a stadium and are now in charge of Championship rivals have also welcomed the Falmer breakthrough.

Coventry boss Micky Adams said: "It's fantastic news. I'm delighted for the supporters and Dick Knight and the Board. They have worked tirelessly to pull this off.

"They do fantastically to hold their heads above water in the Championship. If they can get 23,000 it will increase their spending power to improve the team and it's not impossible they they can be pushing towards the Premiership with the wealth that brings.

McGhee's immediate predecessor, Reading chief Steve Coppell, said: "It's magnificent, I'm delighted from afar. The club have been in limbo. They couldn't really progress and compete against bigger clubs in the Championship, yet alone the Premiership.

"Now this has given them hope, drive and real promise of a beneficial future."